After dogs - anyone ever said no more dogs and stuck to it with no regrets?

[ThatsABitExcessive]

I feel a bit guilty posting this but anyway - I really regret getting dogs. I have two - 9 and 6 years old. The eldest is lovely, he’s an absolute breeze and spend most of his time sleeping but he completely destroyed our house in his younger years - pissing and shitting everywhere until he was 6 years old. He would piss up furniture and has ruined a coffee table, a dining room table and a computer desk doing this as well as ruining multiple flooring beyond repair. On top of this he ruined two sofas, two doors and the stair banister. Nothing has been replaced or repaired as there is just no point whilst he’s still with us.

Our youngest barks constantly, I can’t have windows or doors open as she’ll bark at the slightest noise. We have lovely patio doors onto the garden but can never use them. She doesn’t destroy things though and is a clean dog apart from the constant shedding. Dog hair absolutely everywhere, even upstairs where she isn’t allowed.

im getting to the point where I daydream about being dog less - clean tidy house, no holes in the sofa, no smell, patio doors wide open - has anyone else been through this? I love them of course but I’ll never get another. Everyone says I will - but I don’t think I’ll go back on if this time.

Another bug bear - fancy a quick weekend away? Kennels “that will be £100 please” costs more to put the dogs in kennels than the bloody break costs 😂

We love our dog so much but we will not be getting another one. He will be our one and only

I regret our dogs so much, despite loving them

They cost us a fortune in dog walkers (I work full time), one dog has caused a fall out with the neighbours as she is a bit of a barker, and I hate the tie.

YANBU

YANBU I can see why people would not want to get another one.
My 3 are all elderly now with various health problems and everything has become 10 times more stressful and time consuming with looking after them.

I think I would always want another dog but after this current lot I plan on waiting til I retire and am looking forward to a few dog free years in the future!

I feel exactly the same about mine. I love her more than I ever imagined it would be possible to love an animal. She will be irreplaceable and I think I will resent any other future dogs for not being her. So she will be my one and only. For the complete opposite reason to the OP though - because she’s been too easy, too wonderful, too amazing. No other dog could or would ever compare.

Our dog was our first as adults - we were in our 50s when we got her, just after a bereavement, she kept my DH alive. Gave him something to get up for. She's got quirks but is a little poppet and very easy. But I wouldn't get another one - we are lucky that family have her when we are away - but she's still a tie.

I'm also so worried what happens when she's gone. It's going to be devastating and I think there will be some delayed grief too.

I can't imagine life without her but I can imagine life without a dog....

we lost our wonderful boy last month in a horrific accident. He was only 4. He can never be replaced and I don’t think I can go through losing a dog again. I am still a complete mess. But… I’m so lonely. DH works away all week, DS has just finished his GCSEs and is off living his best life for he summer (as he should be!) and I work from home half of the week. I don’t know what to do without him and it’s amazing how much of my time he took up that is now just empty. So I can probably never say never but my god I don’t know if I can go through this again.

I'm so sorry @Idratherbepaddleboarding . It is never easy losing a pet, utterly heartbreaking but so much harder if they are younger and it is not expected.

So sorry
Honestly I live in fear of something happening to my cavalier because seems so fragile

I don’t want to ask what happened but is there anything I can learn from your horrible experience?

absolutely zero pressure to respond

We have been dog less since the last was finally PTS years ago now. We haven’t got another because of the ‘tie’ factor - can’t go out for the day unless you can take the dog, and going away on spec, anywhere you can’t take the dog, is out of the question. We don’t have anyone we could leave a dog with, and kennels around here need to be booked in advance - besides the £££ factor.
If I were left on my own I’d get another dog, though - the ‘tie’ factor wouldn’t bother me.
Admittedly the house does stay a lot cleaner since we no longer have muddy paws coming in, and hair everywhere. We had both 🐶 and 😺 for over 14 years and they were put to sleep within 6 weeks of each other. 😰

I won't have another dog, I'm tottery and wouldn't be able to do what dogs need. Last one's been rehomed, he's happy and so am I.

@Allthegoodhorses thank you, it’s truly awful 😭.

@Truegum2 erm… don’t let them jump fences. It was a truly one in a billion accident that caused an injury that has never, ever been documented in the world. It was completely unexpected and I still can’t get my head round it. But hopefully your Cavalier is slightly less bouncy than our working Labrador!

It's been 2yrs since I lost my last dog, now I absolutely love dogs had them for 30yrs but I'm not getting one. I wavered a little and then minded a friends, lovely dog no trouble but reminded me why I don't want one 😂. I'm just liking the freedom to please myself, do you realise how long it takes to get used not being on a timer to get home after 4hrs 🙄.

I haven’t been without a dog(s) my entire adult life, my current 10yr old dog is a gem (except for when out in public, he's quite dog reactive after being attacked so walks are not particularly enjoyable a lot of the time) and very much loved but I don’t think I’ll have another dog once he’s gone (though as a pom he’s potentially got a good 6 years in him yet). Honestly since getting my cats I’m a bit of a convert, as much as I’ve loved them all and I’ll be heartbroken when its my boys time, the reality is that dogs are needy, very tying and quite high maintenance. I’m looking forward to being a bit more free now my youngest is of an age where I’m not tied to childcare.

I’ve had cats for over 40 years and my last one died in April aged 19. I miss her terribly and the house feels very quiet. But. I can go away or out all day without having to source a cat sitter (with the attendant wine/chocs etc). I can’t imagine never having another but being honest it’s far easier without a pet atm.

I can understand this. I love my dog with all my heart, she took to training well and has never destroyed anything. So all in all, she's a fairly easy dog. It was always a dream of mine to have a dog. But I won't get another once she's gone. We dont have family near by so going away even just for a night without her is a massive headache to organise. Weekends away on European city breaks, forget it! Even me going into the office on occasion is difficult.
DH sometimes brings up getting a 2nd dog as he thinks it'll be too heartbreaking when she dies and we have no dog. But I just can't do it. The dog is fine on her own, I do 90% of the dog care, there is no way I'm committing to another dog. Once this one is gone I want to be free to travel as and when I please.

I'm there due to emotional circumstance. When my parents dog was alive, I was a teenager. He adored me. White curly fur and black eyes full of love, almost an angel or human expression.

I had a nightmare one day in my 20s that the dog dies very tragic death. Forgot about it. 2 years later my father called me at work crying and said our dog was killed and suffered for a week before dying. Someone murdered him another country...

Then forgot how later but I had the most vivid dream my dog came to me in green grass and gave me a verbal thoughtwave: I love you, I miss you but I'm OK. He also was crying the dream.

So I decided just like I'll have only one marriage, I just had my dog and that was it.

We had 3 dogs at one point, and when the last one reached the end of her road we decided ‘no more’. At first the house felt empty but we also felt free of the responsibilities & financial commitments of having dogs. Definitely no regrets, and we won’t be having any more.

My parents where told they'd never have kids after 3 stillbirths so filled their lives with animals instead
(They went on to have me,my 3 brothers 7 grandchildren and one great grandchild)
They had all the animals until they died,one by one
I remember the psycho cat that died when I was about 6,and the fish,parrot,hamsters and gerbils that died over time but the biggest one was our dog
She was my big sister,she taught all of us siblings how to walk,never judged me,was my bestie,how to behave around dogs and to never paint her claws with red nail polish as you will get into trouble (she had a black coat-she looked very fetching...)
I'll never forget that call to say she'd died-it felt like my life had ended,I loved her so much
My parents refused to get another dog,which felt unfair at the time but it was the right thing to do (looking back as an adult)
I so wanted my dc to grow up with a dog but didn't have the money/time to do it

I love our dogs so much but they are slightly awkward rescues, making it difficult to leave them with anyone other than my parents. I’ve also got rodents as I loved having them as a kid. I did decide recently not to have anymore pets after these- we still have 10 years probably with the dogs and I think by then I’ll be ready to be less tied down. I’d love to be able to travel on a whim. One day!

Grew up with dogs, as did my husband. We had a succession of dogs for 40+ years.

Now we don’t.

It’s bliss

Twenty years ago I had two dogs, there are many things to like - the welcome when you get home being the best.

After I became dog free I’ve never gone back. When I pass the local dog’s trust the thought sometimes crosses my mind and then I remember what a tie they were and the poo and the kennels and the vets bills. So no.

YANBU on the principle (dogs can be bloody hard work, just not as much as kids 🤣) … but tbh personally I know very few previous dog owners that have lasted longer than 6 months after their dog/s have passed before caving and getting another dog. Especially if they have had several dogs before (rather than being first timers).

I think you just get used to the benefits of dog ownership: someone that’s always really happy to see you -which is a rarity in life! (I love and have been owned by cats as well, but part of their shtick is that they can sometimes be a bit more “well I suppose you’ll do” 🤣), that feeling of a furry cuddle, the health boost of having to get out for a walk for their sake even if you don’t really feel like it today… as much of negatives of mess everywhere, vet bills, kennelling bills.

We have had several dogs pass of old age or illness over the years and it’s just a strange sensation in not seeing that waggy tail and friendly face first thing in the morning, as well as going for a walk without the company of a canine companion… I can’t explain it, but I suspect that once a dog owner, always a dog owner (exceptions being made for first time dog owners who can’t cope or the elderly/ill for obvious reasons).

ETA: But judging by this thread, I’m obviously wrong 🤣 I should have prefaced by saying I do live in a rural area with lots of open common land and great walks right from your doorstep - so I reckon at least 3/4 of the people living here have dogs. Maybe it’s different if you live in a town/city?

Tbh I agree with you. My family had a dog growing up and as much as I liked the dog/dogs in general I wouldn’t get my own. I couldn’t envisage dealing with mess and the stink in my house. I think some dog owners are nose blind to that side of things.

We won’t be getting another dog after DDog dies. We love him and have enjoyed him being part of our family, but DD is a young adult, DS late teens, so the family dynamic is changing. DH and I don’t want the responsibility tbh.

I will never own another dog. We had 3 elderly dogs at one point and the last few years was absolutely miserable, watching them decline in mobility, health and the onset of incontinence issues. It was a living nightmare. I felt like I worked/lived in a dementia home as it was 24/7... all consuming, soul destroying, floor mopping misery. But even though they were mainly deaf, blind and clearly losing their minds, they weren't "bad" enough to put to sleep as still wanted their walks and their food, so I felt too guilty to end their lives. In hindsight, the last few years of their lives were not worth the physical and mental trauma for everyone involved. But it has put me off ever owning another dog. I have always loved dogs, had them growing up, got a dog as soon as I left home, and couldn't imagine my life without a dog. But now, I can't imagine ever wanting to own another. If I did ever own another (I won't) I would definitely not get a small breed again, as a potential 18 years is just too much of a commitment. Dogs are amazing, but I don't want one of my own. Borrow my doggy like someone suggested above sounds like a happy medium.